Japanese Video Game Industry Statistics

According to financial news reporting company Bloomberg, through the first half of 2002 Sony’s PlayStation 2 holds 82% of Japan’s console market; Nintendo’s GameCube holds 14% of the market, and Microsoft holds only 4%. Nintendo’s GameBoy Advance dominates the portable market with a 89% market share. Bandai’s Wonderswan accounts for the remaining 11% market share.

An unidentified Japanese publication has published a list of the 15 most influential console video game series ever released in Japan. Squaresoft’s Final Fantasy franchise took first place with almost 3 times as many votes votes as the second place answer:

01. Final Fantasy (Square)
02. Dragon Quest (Enix)
03. Biohazard (Capcom)
04. Super Mario (Nintendo)
05. Phantasy Star Online (Sega)
06. Shin Megami Tensei (Atlus)
07. Street Fighter II (Capcom)
08. Sangoku Musou (Koei)
09. Genso Suikoden (Konami)
10. Metal Gear (Konami)
11. Zelda (Nintendo)
12. Virtua Fighter (Sega)
13. Tactics Ogre (Quest)
14. Xenogears (Square)
15. Super Robot Taisen (Banpresto)

Source: The Magic Box